Police officer stole £2.50 to pay off tuck shop debt

The former officer took the money to pay off a £2 tuck shop debt

A former police officer who stole £2.50 to pay off a debt at a station tuck shop would have been sacked had he not quit.

Former PC James Tillcock took loose change from a car he had searched after its owner was arrested in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, on 21 June.

He reported that no items were taken from the car but body worn video that Mr Tillcock recorded while searching it showed him taking the coins.

On being served with misconduct papers on 2 July, he admitted being "very silly" and said he took £2 to pay off the tuck shop debt.

According to Thames Valley Police (TVP), Mr Tillcock told investigators: "It's alright, I know why you are here. I was very silly. I was in debt for £2 to the tuck shop and took £2."

The remaining 50p was to "purchase chocolate bars for his children", the papers state.

Mr Tillcock, who was previously based in Bicester, received a caution for theft.

TVP's Chief Constable Jason Hogg said Mr Tillcock's misconduct was "serious" and "fell far below the standards expected".

Mr Hogg said the "only reasonable outcome available" would have been that Mr Tillock was sacked, had he not already resigned in August.

That resignation became effective from 9 September.